Process Control Is Key to Effective Ink Optimization
Benefits are also said to include improved reproduction quality; better neutrals; more consistent total ink coverage; and easier color space transformations, as well as cleaner (greener) runs, faster absorption, reduction in rub-off, and potentially higher printing speeds.
Shades of gray
In all cases, the mechanism for achieving ink optimization is known as GCR or Gray Component Replacement, which changes the separation of an image by taking color from the file and increasing the black channel, resulting in a visually and spectrophotometrically nearly identical separation that uses less ink. This, in turn, improves the quality and consistency of the printed result in cases where unwanted tinting of the plate occurs. This is especially useful for high-speed web presses, where a color shift on press could affect many sheets in a short period of time. Long-run sheetfed work also will benefit, yielding consistent, repeatable color during the entire press run. Cost savings result, in part, because cheaper black ink is used replace the more expensive CMY variety.